Perception of symptomatic abdominal bloating in irritable bowel syndrome among Saudi Arabian patients

Aim: To evaluate the association between symptomatic abdominal bloating among Saudi patients and diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and patient characteristics that may be affecting their perception of the symptom. Methods: Patients with IBS symptoms presenting to the Gastroenterology Clinic at the International Medical Centre (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) between August 2013 and July 2016 were recruited using the ROME III criteria for IBS diagnosis. Bowel symptoms and abdominal bloating were collected for statistical comparison with the patient gender, age, and body mass index (BMI). Results: Among the total 305 patients who presented complaining of IBS symptoms, abdominal bloating was predominant, being reported by 257 (84.3%; 122 males and 135 females); the remaining patients either reported no experience of this symptom (n = 22) or no response (n=26). However, among the total patient population only 230 (75.4%) received an IBS subtype diagnosis that is statistically significant different between patients with abdominal bloating compared to those with no bloating (p 0.004). However, a statistical comparison between the bloating symptom among IBS patients and the various IBS subgroups showed no association with sex, age or BMI. Conclusions: Among the patients with IBS at our hospital, a perception of abdominal bloating is typically a true symptom of the disease, particularly for the (IBS- Mixed) IBS-M subtype. Moreover, the perception of abdominal bloating is not associated with patient sex, age or BMI.